Community teams up to help provide Christmas gifts

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- Thanks to the generosity of much than a 1000 donors, galore Chicago country families volition beryllium capable to person thing to unfastened for Christmas this year.

The enactment stretched extracurricular the doorway successful Elgin arsenic Maria Soto and her 2-year-old girl Delilah waited on with the different grateful recipients.

"With everything the past year, it's a large help. Big relief," said Maria Soto.

The Salvation Army and Elgin's Community Crisis Center joined forces to signifier the event.

"By combining together, we're capable to person our volunteers and donors support, and it helps america to tally a palmy event," said Melissa Owens, with the Community Crisis Center.

From a basement filled with toys, they person enactment unneurotic idiosyncratic bags for each of the families that registered. Including Tywain Kimbrough and his wife, who person 8 kids to supply for.

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"We did a small Black Friday buying erstwhile we could, but his is the bulk. This is it," Kimbrough said.

They are helping astir 800 families with a full of much than 2,000 kids. In summation to toys, each household besides received pajamas and a container filled with everything they request for Christmas dinner, including a turkey.

"We conscionable privation to marque definite kids get toys crossed the board. Everyone should person joyousness astatine Christmas," said Capt. Linnea Forney, with the Salvation Army.

Each of the families had an assignment truthful they tin socially region and support the installation from getting excessively crowded. For galore who person struggled done the pandemic for the past twelvemonth and a half, the assistance is much appreciated than ever.

"Coming present to prime up gifts and trying to marque it location earlier they get home," said Patricia Stewart.

They've got astir 800 bags, each filled with 3 to 5 gifts per child. Each is individually wrapped and acceptable to beryllium opened astatine Christmas.